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Topic: Best lens from my set for nightclubs? (Read 17062 times)

If I could take a single lens to do nightclub photography from the following, what you recommend? I have the 5D3. The intention is for some close-up shots of people, some of the DJ and some crowd shots. I may or may not take a flash.

24mm f/1.4L II

35mm f/1.4L

24-105 f/4L

My feeling is that the 24-105 is far too slow, but the zoom gives me way more options. I use the 35 a lot, but it might not be wide enough for crowd shots, and it's also not weather sealed (I am paranoid about people spilling drinks on my camera); the 24 is weather sealed and so should hold up OK if someone accidentally spills a drink on me.

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Not a big fan of a single primes for low light party areas... There is only so much blurred glow sticks one can put under under creativity... Some of the 24mm prime shots all begin to look the same with the distorted sides...

Zooms are ok with high ISO...i would probably suggest 16-35II constantly changing up its focal range and sticking to f2.8 and high ISO. Flash is distracting in these cases and you will stand out as the man with the big "stuff."

If I could take a single lens to do nightclub photography from the following, what you recommend? I have the 5D3. The intention is for some close-up shots of people, some of the DJ and some crowd shots. I may or may not take a flash.

24mm f/1.4L II

35mm f/1.4L

24-105 f/4L

My feeling is that the 24-105 is far too slow, but the zoom gives me way more options. I use the 35 a lot, but it might not be wide enough for crowd shots, and it's also not weather sealed (I am paranoid about people spilling drinks on my camera); the 24 is weather sealed and so should hold up OK if someone accidentally spills a drink on me.

All of these considerations suggest the 24.

Thoughts welcome!

With a 5D3 and wanting close-ups of people, It really depends on how close to the performers you can get. A 135mmL is my choice for close-ups of people, a 35mm or 24mm is way to wide to get individual portraits unless you are 3 ft. away. For wider shots, I might use 50 or 85mm, again depending on the distance. Without knowing how close you are, there is no way to give you a accurate answer.

On the question of zooms and primes, don't forget it is position that creates perspective NOT focal length, stand in the same place with a 24 as a 135 and crop the 24mm image and you get the same portrait, all be it with greater dof.

Bearing that in mind, and the fact that end use is unlikely to go very large or high quality, then the 24 would give me the most flexibility. Shoot to crop and you won't go wrong, try to fill the frame every shot and it will be very formulaic.

I agree that shooting to crop is the way to go, but not a extreme amount. You also get exposure issues when you are too wide, the subject tends to get a wrong exposure, so you have to be very careful and use exposure compensation or preferably full manual. When colored lights are constantly changing, it is even more to worry about.I usually have a lot of working room, from 5 ft to 60 ft, so I can use 35mm or even 24mm by moving around. I can also get different angles. My 85 or 135 is my usual choice, but I use them all. If a person is seated at random in a club, there is no telling how far or close he will be, and if light is low, a fast zoom or prime is the choice. I've never been happy with my 24-105 in low light at f/4. The 5D3 lets me crop a large amount if I have to, but I prefer to crop just a little. If I was 8-10 ft from a performer, I could use 35mm, but 20 ft, I'd prefer a longer focal length. If I want a 1/2 body closeup shot, 24mm is too wide.

The OP should take all three of his lenses and see what works for him.

Another lens you don't own but might want to consider would be the Shorty McForty. With it on your (un-gripped) 5DIII, especially with a wrist strap (such as the BlackRapid one), many will mistrake it for a high-end P&S camera instead of some sort of "serious / pro photographer" camera. That goes double if you put it in Green Square mode with Live View on and hand it to somebody to include you in the shot.

Thank you to all the advice, particularly from those who actually read my post

I don't have the 16-35L, and this would be a great lens for it. I don't have the cash for it at the moment.

RLPhoto - no idea why dance receptions are relevant to this...

LOALTD - I understand the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is pretty good, but I have the 35L and so have no compelling reason to buy it. I keep reading about autofocus issues, even with the Sigma, and so went for the 35L instead and have been pretty happy with it. I was hoping for the 35L II but this seems like a fantasy.

TrumpetPower! - I do have the 40mm pancake but hadn't considered it - 2.8 is only one stop faster than f/4, and with the high ISO capabilities of the 5D3 I would choose the 24-105 f/4 over the 40 f/2.8. The reason to go for the primes in this environment would be to get substantially more aperture. I love the colour rendition of the 24L. I do take your point about it being more easily passed off as amateur though. My 40mm stays on my camera a lot of the time when I'm doing street photography as it is less conspicuous.